1. Describe the term paleoanthropsychobiological. Who coined this term?

The author, Ellen Dissanayake coined the term“paleoanthropsychobiological”. This term included three parts: human history, human societies, psychology and emotion need/effect. As Dissanayake mentioned in the article “First, that the idea of art encompassed all of human history; second, that it include all human societies; and third, that it account for the fact that art is a psychological or emotional need and has psychological or emotional effects” (p.15)。The author used this special word“paleoanthropsychobiological” to make people want to know more about art.

2. What does Dissanayake mean by the phrase “making special”? How does it relate to art and to human survival?

Dissanayake said the phrase “making special” means “particularly things that one cares deeply about or activities whose outcome has strong personal significance” (p.22). which means art is a good way to make yourself special and the author would like to highlight the art is a great significance for the individual stuff. In addition, Dissanayake states that “making special” also means “something that is ‘special’ is different from the mundane, the everyday, the ordinary. It is extra-ordinary” (p.22). It is likely she wants to tell the readers that art is from our normal life, but art is also can make our life different and special.

3. Dissanayake identifies many different theories/movement/periods of art throughout western european history. Name three different theories of art that Dissanayake mentions in her essay. Identify the time period when each theory developed and was prominent. Provide a brief description of the philosophies and ideas that define each theory/movement/period of art. Support your answer with quotes from the reading.

There are three theories of art that Dissanayake mentions. First is the man-centered concerns, which was developed in the medieval times. As the writer said “Renaissance artists gradually replaced God-centered with man-centered concerns, but their works continued to portray a recognizable world” (Dissanayake p.16). That means art is always change by the time, so that to apply to all over the world. Second, modernism, which was developed in the 19th century. Dissanayake mentioned that  “there is a special frame of mind of appreciating works of art-a ‘disinterested’ attitude that is separate from one’s own personal interest in the object, its utility, or its social or religious ramifications” (p.17). The author explained that art is ideology, it is related with social and religious. Third, postmodernism, it means art is interpretation. which was developed in the 20th century. Dissanayake pointed out that postmodernism is “a point of view that calls into question two centuries of assumptions about the elite and special nature of art” (p.19).

In the article “What is Art for?” the writer, Ellen Dissanayake wants to give us a new way to think about art. The writer talks about the western art history shortly, and give some opinions about art to the readers. Dissanayake thinks that art is important, it included “all of human history, all human societies, it is a psychological or emotional need and has psychological or emotional effects”(p.15). In my opinion, art is important for a country and people’s life. Each country has a lot of valuable works of art, these things have value because they are usually the epitome of an era, a lot of art is reflected in a certain moment of that era, perhaps just an afternoon view but this is help for future generations to understand the history. In addition, Art is a good way to allow people to put their feelings in their works, such as painting, there are many valuable works of art are include the feelings of the artist’s. Because these artworks have artists’ feelings and emotions, thus, they are easy to be accepted and loved by people.

Otherwise, the author states that art is “as normal as natural as language, sex, sociability, aggression, or any of the other characteristics of human nature”(Dissanayake,p.15). I’m totally agreeing her opinions, because I think our life is full of art. When I was 10 years old, I started learning painting, I would be more concerned about the things around than before, at the beginning of time I learning sketch, I started observed people around me, later, when I learning gouache I began to observe the scenery around me. Perhaps because I’m learning painting, I think our lives are filled with art everywhere, whether it is human physical and verbal or the beautiful natural scenery. So this article is meaningful, because this article not only makes a better understanding of the arts, but also to make people more aware of the importance of the arts.